Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met with Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan on the issue pertaining to the conduct of the Common University Entrance Test – Undergraduate (CUET-UG) 2025 examination and the inadequate availability of test centres within Meghalaya.
In a memorandum submitted to Pradhan, Sangma said, “I write to draw your kind attention to a matter of deep concern that has caused considerable anxiety among students and their parents across the state of Meghalaya. A large number of students who had opted for centres within Meghalaya – particularly in Shillong – have been allotted centres in distant locations such as Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Mizoram, Nagaland and even Kolkata. This development has placed an undue burden on many students, especially those from financially constrained backgrounds, who are now compelled to bear significant travel and accommodation costs. In many cases, these costs are beyond their means,” he said.
The CM said that the resulting distress has not only disrupted the academic preparation of these students but has also led to a growing apprehension that some may be forced to forgo the examination altogether.
He said that this situation has emerged despite repeated appeals and past assurances regarding the availability of sufficient centres within the state.
“It is important to note that the government of Meghalaya has consistently extended full support to the National Testing Agency (NTA) by identifying potential centres and offering all administrative cooperation. We have also constituted a state-level committee, along with district-level committees, to facilitate the smooth conduct of NTA examinations within the state. Despite these efforts, the present allocation scenario remains a cause of distress,” he added.
He sought the Union Education Minister’s intervention to direct the NTA to review and reallocate CUET-UG 2025 centres for Meghalaya candidates within the state and/or to consider postponing or deferring the examination for Meghalaya students this year until adequate and accessible infrastructure is ensured.
He said, “The appeal arises from a collective sense of urgency among our youth, and I trust we will give it the serious consideration it deserves.”
